Car wheel



W. F. SCHERER.

CAR WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED NOV-9. 191a.

1,411,874. I Patented Apr. 4,1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAR WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922 Application filed November 9, 1918. Serial No.261,819.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SGHERER, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Weston, in the county of Campbell and State ofWyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car lVheels, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, relativelyinexpensive and efficient car wheel, suitable for railway and street caruse, in which freedom of movement forwardly and rearwardly of the wheelproper is permitted independently of the axle, wherein there isprovision for ample lubrication, and in which means are employed forexcluding dust and dirt from the journal, to the end that the durabilityand relative efficiency of the structure may be increased whilemaintaining the cost of manufacture within reasonable limits.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that changes in form and proportion may be resortedto within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel and axle showing a preferredembodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a similar view partly in section to show the construction ofthe bearing or journal,

Figure 3 is a detail view of the retaining ring or collar.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the wheel 10 isconstructed independently of the axle 11 and is mounted upon a reducedportion or spindle 12 of the latter for free movement forwardly andrearwardly, or for independent rotation in either direction, said wheelproper being provided in its bore with lubricant grooves 18, and havingan inwardly extending sleeve 1 1 terminated in an outturned flange 15.Said sleeve is enclosed within a casing 16 which forms a lubricant cupor chamber and is rigidly or fixedly secured in any suitable manner tothe body portion of the axle and is provided at its outer end with aninturned flange 17 which takes into the annular groove or cavity formedaround the sleeve 14 between the facing surfaces of the wheel proper andthe outturned flange of said sleeve, whereby oil, grease or otherlubricating material placed in the casing will be held in such positionthat the wheel practically runs in oil or lubricant, the lower portionof the sleeve being submerged so that the lubricating material iscarried entirely around the journal and insures a minimum of frictionand wear in the operation of the device.

The outward displacement of the wheel is prevented by a split ring orcollar 18 which receives the outwardly projecting portion of the spindleof the axle and fits in an annular seat 19 formed therein, said ring orcollar and the outer portion of the spindle, together with the hub 20 ofthe wheel being enclosed within a cap 21 which is removably fitted uponsaid hub and is designed to turn with the wheel.

Obviously, the lubricating material disposed in the casing enclosing theinwardly projecting sleeve formed on and carried by the wheel proper, iscaused to work through the hearing or journal of the wheel proper to theouter extremity of the hub, whereas the casing on the inner side of thewheel and the cap carried by the hub serve to exclude dust and dirt fromthe bearing surfaces and maintain a suitable, practical frictionlessworking condition of the movable contacting members of the structure.

Also it will be obvious from the foregoing description that a wheel ofthe construction indicated may be produced at a reduced cost as comparedwith those now in general use which are formed on or in connection withthe axle by which the opposite wheels of a car are connected, andmoreover, the removal of a worn or damaged wheel may be accomplishedwith facility, it being necessary simply to displace the cap and removethe retaining ring or collar in order that the wheel proper may beexposed.

Obviously, the complete removal of the wheel can be accomplished only byalso dis-l placing the casing, which to facilitate such operation, is ofsectional construction as indicated.

' What is claimed is:

The combination with an axle having a reduced spindle portion, of awheel having an outwardly extending hub portion and an inwardlyextending exteriorly channelled sleeve, a lubricant containing casingcarried b the axle to enclose said sleeve and provlded at its inner endwith a lubricant retaining flange in contact with the bottom of thechannel in said sleeve, a ring or collar engaging the spindle beyond theouter end of said hub consisting of a split Washer and an embracingspring retainer, and a lubricant retaining cap carried by the hub and 10housing the extremity of the spindle and said ring or collar.

In testimony whereof I affix m signature.

WILLIAM F. SC ERER.

